Apparatus for dispensing packaged goods



Mai'ch 5, 1963 G. HQRVATH 3,080,032

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PACKAGED GOODS Filed June 21, 1962 ig idtates 3,080,032 APARATUS FER DESPENSING PAQKAGED GGODS The object of this invention is to provide in a convenient form apparatus for dispensing packaged goods.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises in combination a first inclined chute down which packages can slide under gravity, a second inclined chute above the first chute, a flap pivotally connected to the lower end of the second chute and spring-loaded in an upward direction, a fixed wall, and a catch pivotally connected to said fixed wall and normally urged to a position in which it engages the free edge of the flap to hold the latter in a position in which it forms a continuation of the second chute, the arrangement being such that when a package slides from the second chute down the flap it will move the catch angularly, thereby releasing the flap and allowing the package to fall onto the first chute.

In the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 is a sectional side view illustrating one example of the invention,

FTGURE 2 is an end view of FIGURE 1, and

FEGURE 3 is a view showing a modification of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a first inclined chute 4 down which packaged goods can slide under gravity, and a second parallel inclined chute 5 spaced from and above the chute 4. At its lower end the chute 4 is extended to form a portion 6 down which packages can slide to a conveyor 7, whilst to the lower end of the chute 5 is pivotally connected at flap 8 which is loaded by a spring 9 in an upward direction.

There is further provided a fixed wall 10 extending at right angles to the direction of the chutes 4, 5. The lower end edge of the wall it! is spaced from the portion 6 of the chute 4, and to it is pivotally connected a catch 11 which is loaded by a spring 12 towards a position in which it extends in prolongation of the wall 10. In the face of the catch 11 presented to the chute 5 is formed a recess serving to define a lower nose 13, and an upper nose 14- which protrudes more than the nose 13.

The arrangement is such that normally the free edge of the flap 8 is engaged within the recess and bears against the nose 14, the flap 8 when in this position forming an extension of the chute 5. When a package slides down the chute 5 onto the flap S, angular movement of the latter (apart from an initial small movement) is initially prevented by the nose 13. However, on sliding down the Bfiddfifi Patented Mar. 5, 1963 flap 8, the package will move the catch 11 angularly so that the flap 8 is released and the package can fall onto the portion 6 of the chute 4. During release of the package, the flap 8 prevents packages from sliding down the chute 4 onto the portion 6. After release of the package, the flap 8 is re-engaged with the catch 11 under the action of the springs 9, 12, the flap 8 moving the catch 11 augularly, but being retained by the nose 14 by virtue of the fact that the nose 14 projects more than the nose 13.

If desired, further parallel chutes and associated flaps can be provided above the second chute, an appropriate number of catches being connected within recesses in the wall. One additional flap is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and is designated with reference numerals equivalent to those associated with the chute 5, but with the sufiix a. in this case packages will fall from flap to flap until the portion 6 of the chute 4 is reached, and apart from the drop from the first flap S to the portion 6, the packages will be guided by the wall lit to prevent them from turning over. The spring 12 of the lowest catch 31 is made sufiiciently strong to prevent the packages from turning over when dropping onto the portion 6.

It will be appreciated that with the construction described, packages from any level, apart from the chute 4, reach the extension of the first chute with substantially the same energy.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 3, the spring 9 bears against a cam 15 on the flap 8 to provide greater damping during the initial downward movement of the flap 8.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing packaged goods, comprising a first inclined chute down which packages can slide under gravity, a second inclined chute above said first chute, a flap pivotally connected to the lower end of the second chute, and spring-loaded in an upward direction, a fixed wall, and a catch pivotally connected to said fixed wall and normally urged to a position in which it engages the free edge of the flap to hold the latter in a position in which it forms a continuation of the second chute, the arrangement being such that when a package slides from the second chute down the flap it will move the catch angularly, thereby releasing the flap and allowing the package to fall onto the first chute.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the spring, loading the flap, acts against a cam surface on the flap to provide greater damping during the initial downward movement of the flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PACKAGED GOODS, COMPRISING A FIRST INCLINED CHUTE DOWN WHICH PACKAGES CAN SLIDE UNDER GRAVITY, A SECOND INCLINED CHUTE ABOVE SAID FIRST CHUTE, A FLAP PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF THE SECOND CHUTE, AND SPRING-LOADED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION, A FIXED WALL, AND A CATCH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIXED WALL AND NORMALLY URGED TO A POSITION IN WHICH IT ENGAGES THE FREE EDGE OF THE FLAP TO HOLD THE LATTER IN A POSITION IN WHICH IT FORMS A CONTINUATION OF THE SECOND CHUTE, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT WHEN A PACKAGE SLIDES FROM THE SECOND CHUTE DOWN THE FLAP IT WILL MOVE THE CATCH ANGULARLY, THEREBY RELEASING THE FLAP AND ALLOWING THE PACKAGE TO FALL ONTO THE FIRST CHUTE. 